Machine for winding threads or the like



Oct. 29, 1957 A. E. HERBERT ET AL 2,311,317

MACHINE FOR WINDING THREADS OR THE LIKE Filed April 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. ALFRED Eoww HERBERT] TOSEPH weeps mvb Rmmao TURNER 1957 A. E. HERBERT ET AL 2,811,317

MACHINE FOR WINDING THREADS OR THE LIKE Filed April 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQRS;

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TOSEPHL Hoops AND R'CHARD TURNER MACHINE FOR WINDING THREADS OR THE LIKE Alfred Edwin Herbert, Joseph Woods, and Richard Turner, Rochdale, England, assignors to John Bright & Brothers Limited, Rochdale, England Application April 22, 1952, Serial No. 283,562

Claims priority, application Great Britain May 3, 1951 11 Claims. (Cl. 242-18) This invention has reference to machines for winding threads or the like and more particularly to those machines of the kind in which the thread or the like is drawn off a package or container mounted on the machine below a bobbin mounted horizontally above and rotated by a driving roller on which the bobbin rests and on which the thread wound on it rests as the bobbin is filled.

In such machines it has always been a matter of difficulty to keep the tension even on the thread wound on the top bobbin and it is very desirable that this tension should be kept as even as possible, and this invention has for its object to provide means applicable to existing or new machines which will regulate the tension on the thread wound on the top bobbin.

According to this invention a machine of the kind referred to for winding threads or the like is provided with a weight resting on the top bobbin and on the thread wound on it which weight is mounted on an arm of a bell-crank lever pivoted on an axis parallel with the bobbin axis and counterweighted so that as the bobbin fills the weight applied is automatically reduced and toward the end removed, whereby the total weight on the roller winding the top bobbin is kept substantially constant through the winding operation.

The invention is more particularly set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a front view of a bobbin mounting provided with tension-regulating means according to the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

As shown in the drawings the bobbin 3 is mounted horizontally with its flanges 4 overlapping the sides of a friction driving roller 5 below. The bobbin rotates on a detachable spindle 6 whose ends are received in slots 7 formed in brackets 8 which are secured firmly on a shaft 9 running behind and above the friction roller.

The thread or cord 10 is fed to the bobbin over a guide 11 mounted on a traverse bar 12 which moves the guide to and fro in front of the bobbin.

Mounted through the arms of the brackets 8 in front of the shaft 9 and parallel to it, is a rod 13 on which, between the brackets a bell-crank lever 14 is pivoted. One limb or" this lever projects upwardly and comprises two projections 15 and a weight 16 supported on arms 17 adjustably secured by set screws in the projections; and the other limb of the lever projects forwardly towards the bobbin and carries a weight in the form of a roller 18 which rests on the bobbin. The roller rotates on ball races (not shown) between the arms of a supporting member 19, and is free to turn one way or the other wiLhin limits to accommodate itself to the surface of the bobbin; to this end the supporting member 19 has a spigot 20 which enters the socket of a boss 21 constituting the forward limb of the bell-crank lever, and is retained in the socket by a screw 22 which, when tightened up, projects into a short peripheral groove 23 in the spigot.

tates Patent 0 ice Initially, when the bobbin is empty, the forward limb of the bell-crank lever is horizontal and the other limb vertical as shown, so that the full weight of the roller 18 presses the bobbin against the friction roller below. As the package builds up however, and the spindle 6 rises higher and higher in the slots 7, roller 18 is lifted so that the upward limb of the bell-crank lever tilts backwards towards the dotted position, and thus the weight 16 tends to counter-balance downward pressure of the roller 18 on the package. The pressure is automatically reduced in this manner as the package gradually increases in weight and diameter, until the turning moment of weight 16 is sufiicient to overcome the counter-moment of the weighting roller, whereupon the arms 17 fall back against the shaft 9 and lift the roller clear of the package, which, for the final stage of winding, has its own weight only on the friction roller below.

When the bobbin is full it can be removed easily and replaced by an empty bobbin on to which the roller 18 is pulled forward to effect the weighting control.

By applying a decreasing weight on the bobbin as its own weight increases and removing the weight altogether for the latter part of the operation, the total pressure on the friction roller can be kept more or less constant throughout; and the control may be adjusted by adjusting the position of .weight 16 relative to the bell-crank lever pivot.

It is found that by using the invention in this manner, a much more even tension can be imparted to the thread than, so far as We are aware, has hitherto been possible.

We claim:

1. A winding apparatus, comprising in combination, driving roller means mounted for rotation about its axis; a rotatable bobbin resting on and rotated by said driving roller means for winding elongated flexible thread material on said bobbin during rotation thereof, the elongated flexible thread material being adapted to pass between said driving roller means and said rotatable bobbin in contact therewith; and weight means comprising a bellcrank lever having a weighting roller on one end thereof resting on said rotatable bobbin and a counterweight member at the other end thereof, said bell-crank lever being pivotally mounted adjacent to said bobbin for turn.- ing about an axis outside the center of gravity of said weighting roller, said bell-crank lever pivoting about its pivot axis as said weighting roller is. raised by the increase of the bobbin diameter during winding of the elongated flexible thread material thereon, so that said counterweight member moves to a position in which the weight thereof at least partly balances the weight of said weighting roller and the vertical force component of the weight of said weight means through said weighting roller on said bobbin gradually decreases as the flexible material is being wound thereon, whereby the pressure between said bobbin and said driving roller means is kept substantially constant as the weight of said bobbin increases due to material being wound thereon.

2. A winding apparatus, comprising in combination, movable driving means; a rotatable bobbin resting on and rotated by said movable driving means for winding elongated flexible thread material on said bobbin during rotation thereof, the elongated flexible thread material being adapted to pass between said movable driving means and said rotatable bobbin in contact therewith; and weight means comprising a bell-crank lever having a weighting roller on one end thereof resting on said rotatable bobbin and a counterweight member at the other end thereof, said bell-crank lever being pivotally mounted adjacent to said bobbin for turning about an axis outside the center of gravity of said weighting roller, said counterweight member being adjustable towards and away from said pivot axis, said bell-crank 3. lever pivoting about its pivot axis as said weighting roller is raised by the increase of the bobbin diameter during winding of the elongated flexible thread material thereon, so that said counterweight member moves to a position in which the weight thereof at least partly balances the weight of said weighting roller and the vertical force component of the weight of said weight means exerted through said weighting roller on said bobbin gradually decreases as the flexible material is being wound thereon, whereby the pressure between said bobbin and said movable driving means is kept substantially constant as the weight of said bobbin increases due to material being wound thereon.

3. A winding apparatus, comprising in combination, driving roller means mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis; a rotatable bobbin mounted above said driving roller means resting on and rotated by said driving roller means for winding elongated flexible thread ma terial on said bobbin during rotation thereof, the elongated flexible thread material being adapted to pass between said driving roller means and said rotatable bobbin in contact therewith; a bell-crank lever pivotally mounted for rotation about an axis adjacent to said bobbin, said bell-crank lever having one arm projecting toward said bobbin from said pivot axis, and having its other arm projecting upwardly from said pivot axis; a bifurcated supporting member pivotally mounted at the end of said one arm of said bell-crank lever for turning about an axis normal to the pivot axis of said bell-crank lever; a weighting roller carried by said bifurcated supporting member and resting on said rotatable bobbin in rolling engagement therewith; and a counterbalancing weight mounted on the end of said other arm of said bell-crank lever adjustable toward and away from the pivot axis thereof, said bell-crank lever together with said weighting roller and said counterbalancing weight pivoting about the pivot axis of said bell-crank lever as said weighting roller is raised by the increase of the bobbin diameter during winding of the elongated flexible thread material thereon, so that the vertical force component exerted through said weighting roller on said bobbin gradually decreases as the flexible material is being wound thereon, whereby the pressure between said bobbin and said driving roller means is kept substantially constant as the weight of said bobbin increases due to material being wound thereon.

4. In a winding apparatus, in combination, rotary driving roller means; a rotatable bobbin resting on said driving roller means for winding thread thereon during rotation thereof; a pivoted bell crank lever means having a first weighted arm and a second weighted arm, said first weighted arm adapted to engage thread wound on said bobbin, said lever means being pivotable from a first position in which said first weighted lever arm urges said lever means to turn in one direction for pressing said bobbin against said driving roller means, to a second position in which said second weighted lever arm urges said lever means in an opposite direction and thereby decreases the pressure which it applies between said bobbin and said driving roller means, said lever means being adapted to turn from said first position to said second position as the diameter of the bobbin increases due to thread wound thereon.

5. In a winding apparatus, in combination, rotary driving roller means; a rotatable bobbin resting on said driving roller means for winding thread thereon during rotation thereof; a pivoted bell crank lever means having a first weighted arm and a second weighted arm, said first weighted arm adapted to engage in a substantially horizontal position thread wound on said bobbin, said lever means being pivotable from a first position in which said first weighted lever arm urges said lever means to turn in one direction for pressing said bobbin against said driving roller means, said second weighted arm extending in said first position or said lever means in a vertical 4 plane passing through the pivoting axis of said lever means to a second position in which said second weighted lever arm urges said lever means in an opposite direction and thereby decreases the pressure which it applies between said bobbin and said driving roller means, and to a third releasing position in which said second weighted arm turns said lever means in said opposite direction for turning said first lever arm away from said bobbin, said lever means being adapted to turn from said first position to said second position and to said third releasing position as the diameter of the bobbin increases due to thread wound thereon.

6. In a winding apparatus, in combination, rotary driving roller means; a rotatable bobbin located above, resting and pressing on said driving roller means, being rotated by said driving roller means for winding thread on said bobbin whereby a package of gradually increasing diameter and weight is formed on said bobbin; a bell crank lever means having a first weighted arm and a second weighted arm; pivot means, supporting said bell crank lever means for turning movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said driving roller means, movable between a first position in which said first weighted lever arm is located above said bobbin on one side of a vertical plane passing through said axis of said pivot means for engaging the package wound on the bobbin and turns, by the weight thereof, said bell crank lever means in one direction for pressing said bobbin downwardly against said driving roller means, and a second position in which said second weighted lever arm is located on the other side of said vertical plane and urges, by the weight there- 'of, said bell crank lever means to turn in an opposite direction for decreasing the pressure which it applies between said bobbin and said driving roller means, said bell crank lever means being adapted to turn from said first position to said second position as the diameter of the package on the bobbin increases.

. 7. In a winding apparatus, in combination, rotary driving roller means; a rotatable bobbin located above, resting and pressing on said driving roller means, being rotated by said driving roller means for winding thread on said bobbin whereby a package of gradually increasing diameter and weight is formed on said bobbin; a bell crank lever means having a first weighted arm and a second weighted arm; pivot means, supporting said bell crank lever means for turning movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said driving roller means, movable between a first position in which said first weighted lever arm is located above said bobbin on one side of a vertical plane passing through said axis of said pivot means for engaging the package wound on the bobbin and turns, by the weight thereof, said bell crank lever means in one direction for pressing said bobbin downwardly against said driving roller means, a second position in which said second weighted lever arm is located on the other side of said vertical plane and urges, by the weight thereof, said bell crank lever means to turn in an opposite direction for decreasing the pressure which it applies between said bobbin and said driving roller means, and a third position in which the center of gravity of said bell crank lever means is located on said ,other side so that said second weighted lever arm turns said bell crank lever means further in said opposite direction to a releasing position in which said first weighted lever arm no longer engages said package on said bobbin, said bell crank lever means being adapted to turn from said first position to said second position and to said third position :as thediameter of the package on the bobbin increases.

8. In awinding apparatus, in combination, rotary driving roller means; a rotatable bobbin located above, resting and pressing on said driving roller means, being rotated by said driving roller means for winding thread on said bobbin whereby a package of gradually increasing diameter and weight is formed on said bobbin; a bell crank lever means having a first weighted arm and a second weighted arm, and including a freely rotatable roll mounted on said first weighted arm; pivot means, supporting said bell crank lever means for turning movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said driving roller means, movable between a first position in which said first weighted lever arm is located above said bobbin on one side of a vertical plane passing through said axis of said pivot means, with said roller adapted to engage the package wound on the bobbin, and turns, by the weight thereof, said bell crank lever means in one direction for pressing said bobbin downwardly against said driving roller means, and a second position in which said second weighted lever arm is located on the other side of said vertical plane and urges by the weight thereof, said bell crank lever means to turn in an opposite direction for decreasing the pressure which it applies between said bobbin and said driving roller means, said bell crank lever means being adapted to turn from said first position to said second position as the diameter of the package on the bobbin increases.

9. In a winding apparatus, in combination, rotary driving roller means; a rotatable bobbin located above, resting and pressing on said driving roller means, being rotated by said driving roller means for winding thread on said bobbin whereby a package of gradually increasing diameter and weight is formed on said bobbin; a bell crank lever means having a first weighted arm and a second weighted arm, and including a freely rotatable roll mounted on said first weighted arm; pivot means, supporting said bell crank lever means for turning movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said driving roller means, movable between a first position in which said first weighted lever arm is located above said bobbin on one side of a vertical plane passing through said axis of said pivot means, with said roll adapted to engage the package wound on the bobbin, and turns, by the weight thereof, said bell crank lever means in one direction for pressing said bobbin downwardly against said driving roller means, a second position in which said second weighted lever arm is located on the other side of said vertical plane and urges by the weight thereof, said bell crank lever means to turn in an opposite direction for decreasing the pressure which it applies between said bobbin and said driving roller means, and a third position in which the center of gravity of said bell crank lever means is located on said other side so that said second weighted lever arm turns said bell crank lever means further in said opposite direction to a releasing position in which said first weighted lever arm no longer engages said package on said bobbin, said bell crank lever means being adapted to turn from said first position to said second position and to said third position as the diameter of the package on the bobbin increases.

10. In a winding apparatus, in combination, rotary driving roller means; a rotatable bobbin located above, resting and pressing on said driving roller means, being rotated by said driving roller means for winding thread on said bobbin whereby a package of gradually increasing diameter and weight is formed on said bobbin; a bell crank lever means having a first weighted arm and a second weighted arm; pivot means, supporting said bell crank lever means for turning movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said driving roller means, movable between a first position in which said first weighted lever arm is located above said bobbin on one side of a vertical plane passing through said axis of said pivot means for engaging the package wound on the bobbin and 6 turns, by the weight thereof, said bell crank lever means in one direction for pressing said bobbin downwardly against said driving roller means, said second Weighted arm being located above said pivot means and in said vertical plane in said first position of said bell crank lever means, and a second position in which said second weighted lever arm is located on the other side of said vertical plane and urges, by the weight thereof, said bell crank lever means to turn in an opposite direction for decreasing the pressure which it applies between said bobbin and said driving roller means, said bell crank lever means being adapted to turn from said first ,posi tion to said second position as the diameter of the package on the bobbin increases.

11. In a winding apparatus, in combination, rotary driving roller means; a rotatable bobbin located above, resting and pressing on said driving roller means, being rotated by said driving roller means for winding thread on said bobbin whereby a package of gradually increasing diameter and weight is formed on said bobbin; a bell crank lever means having a first weighted arm and a second weighted arm; pivot means, supporting said bell crank lever means for turning movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said driving roller means, movable between a first position in which said first weighted lever arm is located above said bobbin on one side of a vertical plane passing through said axis of said pivot means for engaging the package wound on the bobbin and turns, by the Weight thereof, said bell crank lever means in one direction for pressing said bobbin downwardly against said driving roller means, said second weighted arm being located above said pivot means and in said vertical plane in said first position of said bell crank lever means, a second position in which said second weighted lever arm is located on the other side of said vertical plane and urges,

by the weight thereof, said bell crank lever means to turn in an opposite direction for decreasing the pressure which it applies between said bobbin and said driving roller means, and a third position in which the center of gravity of said bell crank lever means is located on said other side so that said second weighted lever arm turns said bell crank lever means further in said opposite direction to a releasing position in which said first weighted lever arm no longer engages said package on said bobbin, said bell crank lever means being adapted to turn from said first position to said second position and to said third position as the diameter of the package on the bobbin increases.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,064,337 Judelshon June 10, 1913 1,655,154 McKean Jan. 3, 1928 2,006,628 Cline July 2, 1935 2,211,954 Lewis Aug. 20, 1940 2,475,895 Hill July 12, 1949 2,605,974 Keith Aug. 5, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 46,665 France May 11, 1936 275,024 Germany June 5, 1914 352,889 Germany May 9, 1922 369,336 Great Britain Mar. 24, 1932 596,031 Germany Apr. 25, 1934 637,666 Germany Nov. 2, 1936 

